Summary: Da'Quan Bowers had a dominant season, leaving many to wonder why it took so long for the light bulb to turn on. He lost his father and also mentor Gaines Adams in a short period of time, leading many to speculate that this helped him focus on the field.

Whether or not Bowers can maintain this level of play after earning an NFL paycheck is one of the knocks on him, in addition to his balky knee. Those concerns must be weighed against his obvious potential to be successful rushing the passer. At his best, Bowers could be an outstanding traditional 4-3 defensive end.

Player Comparison: Mario Williams. It does not appear that Da'Quan Bowers is going to match Mario Williams by being selected first overall, but clearly the talent matches up for him to have been considered there. He does have similar rare size and athleticism like "Super Mario," and both guys can hold their ground against the run.